Transfer conveyor



May 7, 1963 c. M. RIVELY ETAL 3,088,572

TRANSFER coNvEYoR May 7, 1963 c. M. RIVELY ETAL 3,088,572

TRANSFER coNVEYoR Original Filed Jan. 15, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7,1963 c. M. Rlvr-:LY ETAL 3,088,572

TRANSFER coNvEYoR Original Filed Jan. 15, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 7,1963 c. M. RlvELY ETAL 3,088,572

TRANSFER coNvEYoR Original Filed Jan. l5, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 4TRHVELL/NG May 7, 1963 c. M. RlvELY ETAL TRANSFER CONVEYOR originalFiled Jang' '15, Y1959 Y lO Sheets-Sheet 5 i wrm'ml S Nwkm May 7, 1963c. M. RIVELY ETAL TRANSFER CONVEYOR l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original FiledJan. l5, 1959 .NNLWHII May 7, 1963 c. M. Rlvl-:LY ETAL TRANSFER coNvEYoRl0 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed Jan. l5, 1959 May 7, 1963 c. M. RIVELYETAL 3,088,572

TRANSFER coNvEYoR Original Filed Jan. l5, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 @um:111mb w @l W May 7, 1963 c. M. RlvELY ETAL 3,088,572

TRANSFER coNvEYoR May 7, 1963 c. M. RIVELY l-:TAL

TRANSFER CONVEYOR l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed Jan. 15, 1959 NNNAwww@ .All

Qnwm www; www V.: www) mw www www I1 AI www Wmwww www wwwww ml AWN INHUnited States Patent O 3,088,572 TRANSFER CNVEYOR Clair M. Rively,Rockaway, NSY., and William A. Brenneck, West Caldwell, NJ., assignorsto Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application Apr. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 112,145,which is a division of application Ser. No. 787,059, Jan. 15, 1959.Divided and this application Apr. 6, 1961, Ser. No.

i2 Claims. (Cl. iss-19) The present invention relates to an automatichighspeed machine for manufacturing a product produced by the assemblyof the individual parts and, more particularly, to such a machine formanufacturing incandescent lamps, `discharge devices, electronic tubesand the like. This application is la divisional .application of thepatent application of Clair M. Rively et al., Serial No. 112,145 iiledApril 6, 196,1 for Article Transfer Apparatus, the said application112,145 being itself a divisional application of application Serial No.787,059 tiled January 15, 1959 and entitled Automatic ManufacturingMachine.

Heretofore incandescent lamps, discharge devices and electronic tubeshave been manufactured by a group of conventional machines comprisinggenerally a mounting machine, .a sealing and exhausting machine and abasing machine, which group employs on the average -about threeoperators and requires 'vast areas of floor space, such as about 600 sq.ft. These conventional machines transfer the work pieces orsub-assemblies from work station to work station either intermittently,.as by indexing, or continuously. Further, when maintenance is requiredfor a particular head of one of these machines, that machine must beshut-down, thus incapacitating the entire group during the maintenanceperiod. In addition, conventional machines due to their rotating motionand their relatively large weight are limited by the factors of momentumand inertia to index speeds of 3000 to 3600 units per hour. Due to thestresses produced in these conventional machines `during their operationand the limits of current engineering materials these production figuresrepresent the maximum rates for a group of such machines. A furtherlimitation in the case of the sealing and exhausting machines, is theuse of a sliding rotary valve which limits the index time and hence theproduction rate to the minimum exhaust time required per head perexhaust station.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to avoidand overcome the foregoing and other difiiculties of and objections tothe prior art practices by the provision of `apparatus for thehigh-speed manufacture of any product produced by the `assembly of theindividual parts and capable of production rates in the neighborhood of-18,0i22,000 units per hour.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedautomatic high-speed manufacturing machine Which is easily maintainedwithout lengthy shutdown periods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedautomatic high-speed manufacturing machine which requires a minimumnumber of operators and considerably less floor space than heretoforerequired to produce an equivalent number of lamps.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a .transferunit operable to transfer arti-cles between a stationary or movablearticle-feeding zone and a stationary or movable `article-receivingzone.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a work unitoperable to perform a Work function on articles on adjacent stationaryor movable work lines.

. A still further object of the present invention is to pro- 3,088,572Patented May 7,1963

ICC

vide a transfer conveyor adapted to receive articles from anarticle-feeding unit operating at a predetermined rate of output and topresent the articles in a stationary unloading zone for subsequenttransfer to a stationary work line.

The aforesaid objects of this invention and other objects, which willbecome apparent `as the description proceeds, are achieved by providingan automatic high-speed manufacturing machine which tirst produces aplurality of sub-assembly units at a predetermined rate. A transferConveyor then receives these sub-assembly units and presen-ts a firstline of heads loaded -with such sub-assembly units in .a position wherethey are picked up by a :transfer unit.- This transfer uni-tautomatically operates to transfer the sub-assembly units from thetir-st line to a work line of article-assembling units where suchsub-assembly units are added to or completed. If the articles requireseveral progressive steps during their fabrication additional work linesare provided, as required, With a similar transfer unit employed betweeneach adjacent pair of work lines to transfer the articles during theirvarious stages of manufacture from one work line to another. Also workunits adapted to perform short term work functions on the articles maybe employed between adjacent Work lines. After completion the articlesare automatically removed from the last work line and packed ready forshipment.

For a better understandin-g of the invention reference should be had tothe :accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a compound transfer unit and astationary lamp-exhaust line having a portion partially broken away toshow the entire transfer unit.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal-sectional View of the transfer unit along theline II-II of FIG. l in the direction of the arrows and showing theassociated stationary lamp-sealing and exhaust lines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end-elevational view of the transfer unit .alongthe line III-III of FIG. 1 in the direct-ion of the larrows and showingthe associated stationary lamp-sealing line `on the left, the stationarylamp-exhaust line -on the right and the details of the drive mechanismfor the transfer unit.

FIG. 4 is a vertical-sectional View of the transfer unit `and associatedstationary lamp-sealing line and lampexhaust line along the line IV-IVof FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the drivemechani-sm for the pick-up conveyor .and discharge conveyor, which forma par-t of the transfer unit, and their respective article-carryingheads.

`FIG. 5 is `an enlarged fragmentary horizontal-sectional view o-f thedischarge conveyor of the transfer unit taken along the line V-V of FIG.l looking in the `direction of the .arrows and showing a discharge headin the closed position about ready .to open for the discharge of anarticle and another discharge head in the open position after discharge.

FIG. 6 is a vertical-sectional View -of a discharge head of thedischarge conveyor taken along the line VI--VI of PIG. 5 looking in the-direction of the arrows and showing the discharge head in the closedposition, about ready to open, a portion of a cam track for thedischarge head .and the details of the `discharge head.

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of a discharge head of the dischargeconveyor of the transfer unit and its associated guide rods.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pick-up head of the pick-up conveyorand a portion of the head-carrying movable member.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the drive mechanism for thetransfer unit, the pick-up conveyor and the discharge conveyor andshowing, for the sake of simplicity, only one pick-up head and onedischarge head.

FIG. is a diagrammatic operational view of the successive positions ofan article, such as a lamp, during its transfer by the transfer unitfrom a stationary head on the lamp-sealing line to a stationary head onthe lampexhaust line and showing the path of movement and verticaldisplacement of the lamp and a :sealing spindle during the lamp transferoperation.

FIG. l1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the curtatecycloid path ofmovement of a pick-up head from the transfer position of an article froma rst sealing head into alignment With a discharge head -to permit thetransfer of an .article to the discharge head while aligned therewithand its further cu-rtate cycloid path of movement into alignment with asecond sealing head; the prolate cycloid path of movement of a dischargehead with the Itransferred article into alignment with an exhaust headto permit the transfer of the article to an exhaustr head while alignedtherewith and its Isimilar path of movement into alignment with -anotherpick-up head.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view yof the automatic high-speed lampmanufacturing machine employing the transfer units between successivestationary lines of operartion and a transfer conveyor for transferringsubassemblies, such as lamp mounts, from a plurality of automaticmounting machines and lamp bulbs from feeder devices, to `two of `thetransfer units and showing the complete manufacturing operation frommounting to packing.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of the transfer of an article, suchas a lamp, from a sealing head on the stationary sealing line to anexhaust head on the stationary exhaust line and showing the relativelongitudinal displacement of the article during transfer.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic plan view of the intermittent operation ofboth sides of the transfer conveyor between the automatic mountingmachines and bulb feeders and the transfer units.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the transfer conveyor which because ofits length has been broken away along `its mid-portions.

FIG. 16 is a vertical-sectional view of the transfer conveyor takenalong the line XVI- XVI of FIG. 15 looking in the direction of thearrows, and showing the bulb conveyor, the mount conveyor and theassociated drive mechanism therefor.

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the drive mechanism forthe transfer conveyor and showing the Iassociated drive means andelectrical circuits.

FIG. 18 is a side-elevational View of a finished lamp manufactured onthe automatic high-speed manufacturing machine.

Although the principles lof the invention are broadly applicable to themanufacture of any product which is produced by the assembly of theindividual parts, the invention is particularly adapted to themanufacture of incandescent lamps and hence it has been so illustratedand will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated :in thedrawings a compound transfer unit, generally indicated by the numeral 10(FIGS.y l .to 13) has been shown which is operable to transfer articles,such as sealed lamps 12, from an article-feeding line, such as astationary sealing line 14, to an article-receiving line, such as astationary exhaust line 16, as `said unit 10 moves therebetween fromright to left, as viewed in FIG.- 1.

SEALING LINE To support a plurality of reciprocable heads 18 of thesealing line 14, for example ninety-six as shown in FIG. 12 aV frame isprovided which comprises a longitudinal channel 20 (FIG. 3) supported bylegs 22, aixed to the bottom of the channel 20 at regular spacedintervals. As shown in FIG. 12, the tandem-type sealing line 14v mayconsist of two such longitudinal sealing portions of ninetysix heads 18each spaced, for example, 'about six inches 4 fapart, which sealingportions are connected by rounded non-operating end portions.

In order to permit reciprocation of each of the heads 18 (FIGS. 3 and 4)a spindle 24 for each head 131 is reciprocable in an upper bearing 26 inthe channel 20 and a lower bearing 28 upstanding fro-n1 the floor. Sothat each head 18 may rotate, a bifurcated sealing-head bulb holder 30(FIG. l0) is rotatably -afxed to the upper portions of each of the upperbearings 26 and is provided with suitable lingers 32 adapted to supportthe bowl of a lamp 12. As is well known in the sealing art, eachispindle 24 has a mount pin 34 (FIG. 3) on its upper end to position theflare of a lamp mount 12m` (FIG. 18) during the sealing opera-tion. Toprovide a reciprocating means for each spindle 24, the lower end `ofeach spindle 24 carries a roller 36 (FIG. 10) for engagement with anlindividu-al cam 38 on a sealing-line cam shaft 40, which shaft 40 isdriven by fa gear 42 meshing with a pinion gear 44 aiiixed to the shaftof a motor (not shown).

During operation the calm 38 progressively raises the spindle 24 withina predetermined period of time so that, if the heads 18y were not insimultaneous horizontal motion (but remain horizontally stationary whilethe transfer unit 10 moves relative to the rising spindles 2'4, which is-the case as hereinafter described) the eiect of such progressiveraising of the spindle 24 is that the end of the spindle 24 travels animaginary path of movement, as indicated by the dotted line b in FIG.l0. By the the same token, since a sealed lamp 12 is cradled in thesealing-head holder 30, Isuch lamp 12' is raised by the spindle 24 fromthe normal work position of lthe lamp in the holder 30, as shown at A1in FIG. 10, progressively through positions A2 and A5, and thencethrough positions A6 to A8, which would be equivalent to such lamptraversing an imaginary path of movement a in FIG. 10, during the sameperiod of time that the end of the spindle 2'4 moved through itsimaginary path b.

When, however, the lamp 12 is raised by the spindle 24 to the positionA5, a pick-up head 46 carried by a conveyor of the transfer unit 10, ashereinafter more fully described, aligns itself with the sealing-headholder 30 and contacts the lamp 12 at the position A6 so that the latteris supported by the transfer unit pick-up head 46, since the spindle 24alone moves downwardly from positions A6 tol A3 leaving the lamp 12 inthe pick-up head 46. lFinally, due to the relative movement of thepick-up head 46 with respect to the lamp holder 30, and after thespindle 24 has cleared the lamp tubulation `12t by moving below thelatter, as shown in position A7 ('FIG. 10), the pick-up head 46 with thebulb 12b supported thereby moves away from its previous axial alignmentwith the sealing head bulb holder 30 andthus moves the lamp 12 throughthe opening in the bifurcated lamp holder 30. At the same time thespindle 24 moves upwardly through position A9 and A10 and returns to itsinitial work position A1, as indicated by the line b in-FIG. 10.

To provide synchronized raising and lowering of successive spindles 24both With respect to each other and the travel of the transfer unit 10,the raised portion of each cam 38 (FIG. 10) is offset a predeterminedamount on the shaft 40 from the raised position of the preceding cam 38,as viewed in the direction of travel of the transfer unit `10.

Since the individual automatic tooling for sealing the mounts 12m (FIG.18) to the bulbs 12b does not, per se, form a part of this invention itis suicient to say that the bulbs 12b and flares of the mounts 12m arepreheated, then heated to a semi-plastic condition to effect sealingthereof and iinally the seals are mold-ed to a `desired contour for thelater application of bases 12e, in the conventional manner.

EXHAUST LINE The supporting structure for each longitudinal side of thetandem-type exhaust line 16 (FIGS. l, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 12), similar ingeneral structure to the sealing line 14, has a longitudinal channel 48(FIG. 3) supported on a plurality of spaced legs 50 upstanding from theoor. A plurality of stationary exhaust heads 52, for example ninety-sixin the showing of FIG. 12, are mounted on the channel 48 in the samespaced relation to each other as the sealing heads 18 on the sealingline 14, namely, about six inches apart. For the purpose of hermeticallysealing a tubulation 12t in each head 52, a compression rubber assembly54 of conventional structure, such as shown in U.S. Patent No.2,254,905, issued September 2, 1941, to Daniel Mullan, is mounted on ahollow head housing 56 of each head 52 and the housing 56 is secured tothe channel 48. So that a sealed lamp 12 may be alternately evacuatedand gas filled during the exhaust thereof and exhaust and gas fill line58 connects the hollow interior of the housing 56 with a conventionalvalve (not shown) for alternately connecting said line 58 to a vacuumsystem or to a gas ll system (both not shown).

Since the individual automatic exhaust tooling for each head 52 doesnot, per se, form a part of this invention it is sufficient to say thatthe sealed lamps 12 in the heads 52 are subjected to the conventionalexhaust steps comprising baking, alternately ilushing and exhausting,nal gas iill and tip off.

TRANSFER UNIT In order to provide a frame for the compound transfer unit(FIGS. l-12) of the present invention, a top rectangular table `60 andan intermediate rectangular table 62 are integrated at their endportions (FIGS. 1 and 2) by a plurality of, for example four, uprightVertical columns 64, and a lower rectangular table 66 is xed in spacedrelationship to the intermediate table 62 by a plurality of, for examplefour, spacers 68.

A pick-up conveyor 70 and a discharge conveyor 72 of the compoundtransfer unit 10, as well as a drive mechanism 74 for the transfer unit10 and the conveyors 70 and 72 are all operatively mounted on such frameof the transfer unit 10 as will now be more specifically described.

PICK-UP CONVEYOR For the purpose of furnishing a supporting structurefor the movable pick-up conveyor 70, which carries the pick-up heads 46(FIGS. l, 2, 3, 4, and 9), an inner guide 76 (FIG. 4) is suitably spacedbelow the top table 60 by a supporting spacer 78 ydepending from thetable 60. An outer guide 80 is located in the same horizontal plane asthe inner guide 76 (FIG. 4) and has its forward and rear end portions,as viewed in FIG. 2, mounted in suitable grooves in the columns 64. Asshown in `FIG. 4, the right-hand side portion of this outer guide 80,adjacent the exhaust line 16, is mounted in similar grooves in brackets82 depending from the top table 60 while its other longitudinal side issupported by spacers 84 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) `depending from top table 60.The guides 76 and 80 have, for convenience, the same general shape asthe top table 60, with the latter guide 80 having angulated 'corners asshown in FIG. 2. In addition, the spacer 78 and the inner guide 76 areprovided with a pair of clearance holes for vertical shafts `86 (FIGS.1, 3 and 4) journalled in spaced relation in suitable bearings 88.

Each of the shafts 86 (FIG. 9) carries a guide member, such as asprocket 90, and an endless movable member, such as a chain 92, passesaround each sprocket 90 and is supported thereby. Such chain 92 carriesthe pick-up heads `46, which may be ten in number, as shown in FIGS. 2and 13, with such heads 46 being adapted to pick up a sealed lamp 12from a head 18 of the sealing line l14 as hereinbefore mentioned. Toattach each of these pick-up heads 46 to the endless movable member 92,in the same spaced relation as the sealing heads 18, namely about sixinches, a pair of link pins 94 (FIG. 8) in the chain 92 have theirdepending lower ends threadable into a block 96 on the pick-up head 46.

PICK-UP HEADS In order to permit each pick-up head 46 on the pick-upconveyor 70 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 8) to ride on the guides 76 and 80, a rollerpin 98 has its block-like upper end portion, as viewed in FIG. 8,secured in a suitable slot 100 in the block 96, by a plate 102 aixed tothe block 96, and such roller pin 98 carries a lipped guide roller 104(FIGS. 4 and 8) which rides on the guides 76 and 80. To retain theroller 104 on the shaft 98, a T-shaped bracket 106 is aflxed to thelower end of the shaft 98, as by pinning. For the purpose of providingeach head 46 -with lamp-receiving means, a pair of mount rods 108 dependfrom the bracket 106 and support a bulb-holder plate 110, on their lowerend portions, which holder 110 is adapted by means of lingers 112 toreceive a sealed lamp 12 from a head 18 of the sealing line 14 in thepick-up position A5 (FIG. l0), as previously hereinmentioned.

DISCHARGE CONVEYOR To afford mounting means for the discharge conveyor72 of the transfer unit 10, a table 114 (FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 4) issupported by the same bracket 82 depending Ifrom the top table 60 whichalso supports the guide member 80. This table 114 conveniently has agenerally rectangular shape, a-s .shown in FIG. l. The movable portionof the discharge conveyor 72 has a pair of vertical shafts 116 (FIGS. 14 and 9) journalled in :suitable bearings 11'8 mounted in the tab-le 114and intermediate table 62. Each shaft 116 carries an upper sprocketmember 120 and a lower sprocket member 122 and endless movable members,such as chains 124 and 126, pass around these upper and lower sprocketmembers 120 and 122 respectively, and hence are movably supportedthereby.

For the purpose of serving as guides lfor the mounting thereon of aplurality of vertically reciprocable discharge heads (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7)of the discharge conveyor 72 Vin the same spaced relation as the pick-upheads 46, namely about six inches apart, common link pins 128 extend-between the movable members. The heads 130 may be eight in number, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 13. It will be understood from a consideration ofFIGS. 2 and 9 that contiguous parallel portions of the movable member 92of the pick-up conveyor 70l and the movable members 124 and 126 of thedischarge conveyor 72 move at the same rate and in the same direction,to permit the transfer of sealed lamps 12 from the pick-up heads 46 tothe discharge heads 130.

DISCHARGE HEADS The discharge heads 130y carried by the dischargeconveyor 72 each comprise a body 132 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) reciprocablymovable along its associated pair of link pins 128 which pass throughsuch body. A slot -is formed in the outer side of `such body 132 (FIGS.5-7) and a pair of jaws 134 and 136 are pivotably mounted in the bodyslot with the outer ends of such jaws being adapted to normally closeand grip the exhaust tubulation 12t of a sealed lamp 1'2. The inner endof these jaws 134 and 136 are engageable Iby a pin 138 carried by theinner end of a reciprocable plunger 140l extending through the innerside wall of the body 132. In order to maintain the outer end of theplunger 140' in it-s normally extended position (FIGS. 6 and 7), whichposition in turn keeps the jaws 134 and 136 closed through engagement ofthe pin 138 with the inner ends of such jaws, a coil spring 142surrounds the plunger 140 where it passes through a bushing 144 providedin the body 132 and the spring 142 forces the plunger 140 outwardly ofthe body 132, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

By reference to these latter lfigures, it will be noted that the meansfor raising and lowering each head 130 7 on the link pins 128 utilizes a'roller 146 which surrounds the normally protruding end of the plunger148 and is secured t-o the body 132 in any suitable manner, such as by asnap-ring 148i. Such roller 146 of each discharge head 130 rides in a-pair of cam tracks 158 supported by suitable; brackets 1,52 dependingfrom the table 114 (FIG. l). These cam tracks 158 parallel thehorizontal path of movement of the endless movable members 124 and 126of the discharge conveyor 72 on each side of the axis of the shafts 116,but as can be seen from FIG. 1, such carn tracks 158` decline downwardlyon each side of the axis of the shafts 116 from the upper endless member124 toward the lower endless member 126. Hence, each discharge head 130tis at its highest elevation along the link pins 12S when at the upperlefthand end of the cam tracks 150, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5, being soraised or lowered by the roller 146 as it travels along the cam tracks150 on each side of the axis of the left-hand shaft 116.

After the discharge head 130 reaches the top of the link pins 128, itsintegral roller 146 is then carried, by the endless movable members 124and 126, from the far cam track 150y (as viewed in FIG. l) intoengagement with a grooved idler cam 154 (FIG. 5) affixed to the adjacentshaft 116. The roller 146 of each head 130 rides in the groove of thisidler cam 15,4 during counterclockwise lrotary movement (FIGS. l and 5)of the discharge head 130 about the common axis of the ca m 154 andshaft 116 until such roller 146 again engages the highest elevation ofthe near cam track 150` (as viewed in FIG. l). It will be notedparticularly from FIG. 5, that the depth of the groove in the idler cam154 is such that the discharge head plunger 140l is slightly spaced fromthe cam hub so that such plunger -is in no way moved and hence thedischarge head jaws 134 and 136 continue to remain closed about thetubulation 12t of a lamp 12 during the entire counterclockwise rotation(FIG. 5) of the discharge heads 130 about the periphery of the idler cam154 and the axis of its drive shaft 116.

When the roller 146 of each discharge head 13)l is carriedby thecontinued movement of the discharge co-nveyor 72 into engagement withthe highest elevation of the near cam track 150, as viewed in FIG. l,such roller 146 rides down the declining surface thereof t-o insert thetubulation 12t into the exhaust head 52. At its lower elevation of theroller 146 passes from the cam track 150 into the :groove of anotherrotary cam 1'56 carried by the other shaft 116 of the discharge conveyor72 and utilized to open the jaws 134 and 136. By reference now moreparticularly to FIG. 5, it will be noted that the inner hub portion ofsuch rotary cam 156 is of much greater diameter than the hub portion ofthe idler cam 154. As the roller 146 traverses the periphery of thisrotary cam 156, the end of the discharge head plunger 140 contacts suchenlarged hub portion at the position B1 in FIG. 5, cau-sing thebeginning of an inward movement of such plunger 140 against the tensionof the inner coil spring 142. When the plunger end reaches the positionB2 of FIG. 5, it will be at the point of largest diameter of the hubportion of the rotary cam 156 and hence will then be entirely depressedinto the discharge head 130, thus causing complete opening of the headjaws 134 and 136 which thus release the tubulation 12t of the lamp 12,leaving the latter in the exhaust head 52 into which it was deposited bythe downward movement of the discharge head 130.

The head jaws 134 and 136 continue to remain open, as the emptydischarge head 13G rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 5) about the peripheryof the rotary cam 156 and the axis of its drive shaft 116, until the endof plunger 140 reaches point B3 in FIG. 5 where outward movement of theplunger 146 begins and is completed at position Bg at which time thehead jaws 134 and 136 will have again closed about the tubulation 12tofv another lamp 12 carried by the pick-up head 46 of the pick-upconveyor 70. Asv the pick-up heads 46 of the pick-up conveyor 70 and thedischarge heads 130 of the discharge conveyor 72 move together at thesame speed and in the same direction along a common path of movement(FIGS. ll and 13), the elevating cam track 150 paralleling their path ofmovement and which is engaged by the head roller 146 raises thedischarge head 130, as before mentioned, thus causing the latter to liftthe lamp 12, by means of its tabulation 12x which is grasped by the headjaws134 and 136, out of the pick-up head 46.

DRIVE MECHANISM The prime mover for the drive mechanism 74 for thetransfer unit 10 comprises an electric motor 158 supported on bracketsdepending from the bottom table 66. As shown in FIG. 3, this motor 158is energized from a suitable source of electrical energy to which it isconnected by brushes 162 and bus bars 164 extending along the path ofmovement of the transfer unit 10. In order to utilize the motor 158 tocause movement of the transfer unit 10 between the sealing line 14 andthe exhaust line 16, a drive shaft 166 of the motor 158 (FIGS. 3 and 9)extends through the bottom table 66 of the transfer unit 10 and carriesa drive gear 168 meshing with a pinion gear 172 on an upright shortshaft 174 journalled in suitable ybearings 176 on the transfer unit 10(FIG. l). Such shaft 1'74 also carries a drive gear 178 engaging astationary rack 180 aflixed to a left-hand L-shaped guide track 182(FIGS. 3 and 4) on` the channel 20 of the sealing line 14, .above thebus bars 164. A similar right-hand guide 4track 182 (FIG. 3) is alsoaflixed to the channel 48 of the exhaust line 16 in horizontal alignmenttherewith.

To carry the weight of the transfer unit 10 and to keep it aligned withitsy path of movement, a pair of vertical rollers 184 and 18,6 `aremounted on brackets 188 (FIG. 4) depending from each of the four cornersof the bottom table 64. These pairs of rollers 184 and 186 engage thetop and bottom surface, respectively, of the guide tracks 182 andeliminate vertical movement of the transfer unit 10. In order to preventlateral movement of the transfer unit 10, a horizontal roller (FIGS. 3and 4), mounted adjacent each pair of rollers 184 and 186, engages theinner face of its respective guide track 182. For the purpose ofemploying `the motor 158 to also drive the pick-up conveyor 70 and thedischarge conveyor 72, a pinion lgear 170 on the forward shaft 86 (withreference to. direction of movement, FIG. 1, of the pick-up conveyor 70)meshes with the drive gear 168. The clockwise rotation (FIG. 9) impartedto the forward shaft 86 by the drive gear 168 is transmitted by theguide sprockets 90 and movable endless member 92 to the rearward shaft86 which in turn is connected by a gear train 192 to the rearward shaft116, as viewed in FIG. 9, of the discharge conveyor 72. Such gear train192 is contained in a gear box 194 (FIG. l) affixed to the bottom of theintermediate table 62 of the transfer unit 10 and such gear train 92 isselected so that the adjacent sections of the movable endless member 92of the pick-up conveyor 70 and the similar members 124 and 126 of thedischarge conveyor 72 travel at .the same rate and in the samedirection, as hereinbefore mentioned.

OPERATION OF DRIVE MECHANISM Upon energization of electric motor 158,the drive gear 168 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction whichthereby rotates (FIG. 9) the gear 178 on the short shaft 174 inclockwise direction, Since this gear 178 engages the stationary rack180, as previously mentioned, the transfer unit 10 moves to the left(FIGS. l and 2) along the guide tracks 182 between the stationarysealing line 14 and stationary exhaust line 16. At the same timecounterclockwise rotation of the drive gear 168 rotates the pinion gear1170 on the forward shaft 86 (FIG. l) of the pick-up conveyor 72 so thatthe sprocket members 90* and the rearward shaft 86 are in turn rotatedin clockwise direction (FIG. 9). Such rotation of the rearward shaft 86causes the above mentioned gear train 192 to rotate a pinion gear 196 onthe rearward shaft 116 and the sprocket members 120 and 122 carriedthereby in counterclockwise direction (FIG. 9).

It will thus be seen from FIGS. 2 and 9, that the side of the .pick-upconveyor movable member 92 adjacent the sealing line 14, and the sidesof the discharge conveyor movable members 124 and 126 adjacent theexhaust line 16, simultaneously move in a direction opposite to the pathof movement of the transfer unit 10 but at the same speed. This resultsin the pick-up heads 46 on the side of the pick-up conveyor 70 adjacentthe sealing line 14, and the discharge heads 130 on the side of thedischarge conveyor 72 adjacent the exhaust line 16, being in alignmentwith and rel-atively stationary with respect to the heads 18 on thesealing line 14 and the heads 52 of the exhaust line 16, respectively,to permit the transfer of lamps 12 therebetween. It should likewise beapparent that the pick-up heads 46 on the side of the movable member 92of the pick-up conveyor 70 adjacent the discharge heads 130 on themovable members 124 and 126 of the discharge conveyor 72 align with eachother and move in the same direction as the path of movement of thetransfer unit 10 but at twice the speed of the heads 46 and 130 on theother side of the axes of their respective drive shafts 86 and 116, thuspermitting the transfer of the lamps 12 (FIG. 10) from the pick-up heads46 to the discharge heads 130 during the period in which the heads 46and 130 are in alignment with each other.

OPERATION OF THE TRANSFER UNIT By reference particularly to FIGS. 3 and4, it will be apparent that the vertical axis of each pick-up head 46 ofthe pick-up conveyor 70` is radially located on the sprocket member 90at a distance from the shaft 86 which is less than the radius of saidsprocket member 90. Thus, as the transfer unit 10 moves to the left(FIG. l) between the sealing line 14 and the exhaust line 16 and thesprocket member 90 rotates in clockwise direction ('FIG. 2), thevertical axis of each pick-up head 46 follows the path of a curtatecycloid (FIG. 1l). This curtate-cycloidal path of movement of thepick-up head 46 extends from a starting position Ch wherein thedischarge head 130 of the discharge conveyor 72 is in alignment with thepick-up head 46, and through successive positions C2, C3 to the lastposition Cm where the pick up head 46 is then aligned with a head 18 ofthe sealing line 14 at position A5 (FIG. 10'). As hereinbeforeexplained, the pick-up head 46 and sealing head 18 remain in alignmentduring the lowering of both the sealing spindle 24 and the sealed lamp12 at positions As through A8 (FIG. l0) to permit the reception of thelamp 1'2 in the iingers 112 of the bulb holder 110 and thereafter allowthe withdrawal of the pick-up head 46 carrying the lamp 12 fromalignment with the sealing head 18 beginning at position C14 (FIG. vll)and which corresponds to the position A8 of FIG. 10. The pickup head 46again follows the path of the curtate cycloid through the successiveposition Cm C16 Cm shown in FIG. 11, until the head 46 becomes alignedat position C27 (FIG. l1) with a discharge head 130 of the dischargeconveyor 72, at which position the tubulation-gripping jaws 134 and 136of the discharge head 130 close about the tubulation 121i of the lamp12, seated in the head 46.

The pick-up heads 46 and discharge heads 130 remain in alignment, asshown in FIG. 10, through the positions (327, C28, C29 and 01. Duringthis path of joint movement, the elevating cam track 150 (FIG. l) raisesthe discharge head 130l to lift the lamp 12 out of the pick-up head 46by the time said heads arrive at position C1. To permit the pick-up head`46 to begin its curtate cylcoid motion and move away from the lamp 12carried by the discharge head i130 while such head 130 continues itslongitudinal motion, thus preventing breakage of the tubulation 12t ofthe lamp 12 by the head 46, it will be noted particularly from FIG. 13,that the discharge conveyor 72 on the transfer unit 10 leads the pick-upconveyor 70 by about 1A of the distance of the spacing between the heads46 and 130.

The sealed lamp l212 is then carried in the discharge head 130 aroundthe grooved idler cam 154 in its elevated position until the head 130and the lamp 12 arrive on the other side of the endless movable members124 and 126 of the discharge conveyor 72 and are aligned (FIG. l0) withthe compression-rubber assembly 54 of a head 52 on the exhaust line 116.

It will be understood from a consideration of FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7 thatthe vertical aXis of each discharge head 130 during its path of movementaround the idler cam 154, lies on an extension of a radius of thesprocket members and 122 of the discharge conveyor 72 and will follow apath of a prolate cycloid through the successive positions El, E2 E13,shown in FIG. 11, to the aligned position E14, of FIGS. 10 and 11, Withthe compression-rubber assembly 54 on the exhaust head 52 as abovementioned. The discharge head 130, lamp 12 and the exhaust head 52remain in alignment, as shown in FIG. l0, through the positions E15,E16, and E17. During their alignment the cam track l150 lowers the headand inserts the tubulation 12t of the lamp i12 in the compression-rubberassembly 54, so that when the discharge head 11130 reaches the lowermostposition E17 of FIGS. 10 and 11, the tubulation 12t is fully insertedinto the compression-rubber assembly 54. As shown particularly in FIG.5, the plunger of the discharge head 130 then engages the jaw-openinggrooved cam 156 at position B1 thus releasing the tubulation 12t of thelamp 12 from the discharge head 130, and permitting such head 130 withits jaws 134 and 136 now open, to move around the cam 1156 along thepath of a prolate cycloid through the positions B2, B3, B4 (FIG. 5) andcorresponding to positions E18 through E29 (FIG. 1l). At position B4(E29) the jaws i134 and 136 close about a tubulation 121* of anotherlamp 12 held in a second pick-up head 46 in the position C27 (FIG. l1),and the transfer cycle is repeated.

Owing to the 1A position offset, shown in FIG. 13, between the conveyors70 and 72, a lamp 12 picked up from a sealing head 18 at position :1a bythe transfer unit 10, and transferred to an exhaust head 52 at position1b on the exhaust line 16, is moved longitudinally to the left, asviewed in FIG. 13, lO-li or 9% positions.

Since stationary lines of work stations are employed by the automaticmanufacturing machine of the present invention and are shown (FIG. 12),it has been foun'd advantageous to employ a transfer conveyor 198 (FIGS.12, 14 and 15 through 17) having a pair of movable members 200 and `202,such as endless chains, for receiving sub-assemblies, such as lampmounts 12m and bulbs 12b, from a plurality of indexingarticle-fabricating machines, such as automatic mounting machines 204 ofthe type shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,637,144, issued May 5, 1953, to R.M. Gardner et al. and a bulb feeder 206 of the type shown in U.S. PatentNo. 1,783,806, issued December 2, 1930 to W. W. Loebe et al.respectively. These movable members 200 and 202 then present the mounts12m and bulbs 12b respectively in a stationary line for transfer by amount-transfer unit 10m and a bulb-transfer 10b respectively to astationary work line, such as the sealing line 14. The loading side ofthe movable members 200 and 202 is moved three stations to the right, asviewed in FIG. 12, by a first drive means, such as the loading sidedrive 208, at a iirst index station SL (FIG. 17) at a iirst rate ofindex namely 3200` times each hour or once every 2/8 seconds (FIG. 14).This lirst rate of index is in synchronism with the rate of output ofthe bulb feeder 206, the automatic mount machines 204 and associatedtransfer devices 210 which transfer the lamp mounts 1.2m from theautomatic mounting machines 204 to the movable member 200` at aplurality of stations on the loading side. The unloading side of themovable members 200 and 202 is moved ninety-six stations to the left,when viewed in FIG. 12 by a second drive means, such as the unloadingside drive 212, (FIG. 17) at a second index station SU at a slower rateof index, namely one hundred times `each hour or once every thirty-sixseconds (FIG. 14), than the rate of index of the automatic mountingmachines. Due to the greater rate of index of the automatic mountingmachines 204, the portion of the movable members 200 and 202 moving fromthe rst index station SL to the second index station SU graduallyincreases in length and the remaining portion gradually decreases inlength.

TRANSFER CONVEYOR To, provide a frame for the transfer conveyor 198 ofthe present invention (FIGS. l2, 14 and 15 through 17), a pair of upperlongitudinal channels 214 and a pair of lower longitudinal channels 216are secured to horizontal tie members 218 and legs 220.

For the purpose of supporting the unloading side of the movable members200 and 202 in their path of movement from the iirst index station SL tothe second index station SU and -back again to the former station, apluralityof guide members 222, suitably sprockets, are xed to shafts 224rotatable in suitable bearings 226 upstanding from a plurality ofmounting plates 228 disposed on the bottom surface of the upper channels214. To support the loading side of the movable members 200 and 202,guide members 230, also sprockets, are mounted on shafts 232 rotatablein bearings 234 disposed in spaced relationon a longitudinal channelmember 236 of a reciprocating carriage 238. It will be apparent fromFIGS. 12, 15 and 17 that the innermost guide members 222 on theunloading side are spaced farther from the longitudinal axis'of thereciprocating carriage 238 than the remaining guideA members 222, withsuch off-set of these innermost guide members 222 providing anunobstructed path of movement or unloading zone for the mounttransferunit [101m and the bulb-transfer unit 10b (FIG. 12) as said transferunitsleave the curved portions of the sealing line 14 and alignthemselves parallel to the sealing line 14.

So that the carriage 238 may be moved to the right, as viewed in FIGS.12', 15` and 17, by the portion of the movable members 200 and 202between the second index station SU and the first index station SL tocompensate for the diiference in the rate of movement of the loading andunloading sides of the movable members, the longitudinal member 236 lofthe carriage 238 is mounted on the upper channels 214 by means of aplurality of opposed pairs of vertical rollers 240, and a plurality ofpairs. of horizontal rollers 242. These rollers engage the channels 2114at positions along the length of the longitudinal member 236 and alsoprevent motion of the carriage 238 in a vertical plane and in a planetransverse to the longitudinal axis of its reciprocatory movement.

To adapt the movable member 200 to receive lamp mounts 12m from thetransfer devices 210, a plurality of mount-receiving heads 244 (FIG.16), for example three hundredy eight, as shown in FIG. l2, are disposedthereon the same distance apart as the sealing heads 18 of the sealingline 14. In like manner, the movable member i202 is provided with asimilarly spaced number of bulb-receiving heads 246. i

For the purpose of supporting the first drive means for the loading sideof the transfer conveyor 198, drive members 248, both suitablysprockets, are affixed to a shaft 252 journalled in a bearing 2514upstanding from a support plate256 secured to one of the tie members218.

12 FIRST DRIVE MEANS FOR LOADING SIDE OF TRANSFER CONVEYOR The aforesaidshaft 252 of the first drive means 208 also carries a keyed ratchetwheel 272, as well as a pawl arm 274 and a rack pinion gear 276 joinedtogether by a bushing 278 (FIG. 17) which is rotatable on the shaft 252.The pinion gear 276 engages a rack 280 slidable in a guide 282 providedin the lower portions, as viewed in FIGS. 16 and 17, of the bracket forthe bearing 254 carrying the shaft 252. The free end of the pawl arm 274carries a stud shaft 284 on which is mounted a pwl 286 engageable withthe ratchet wheel 272 to cause counterclockwise rotation (IFIG. 17) ofsuch ratchet wheel 272 and the attendant indexing of the loading side ofthe movable members 200 and 202 a desired number of, for example threestations to the right, as viewed in FIG. 17, upon rotation of the shaft252.

To provide a prime mover for the first drive means 208 for the loadingside of the movable members 200 and l202, the left-hand end of the rack280, as viewed in FIG. 17, is affixed to an operating rod 288 of an aircylinder 290. The air cylinder 290 is provided with two inlet lines 292and 294 for passage of air thereinto. Admission of air through line 292causes respective movement of the piston rod 2916 to the left withattendant counterclockwise rotation of pinion gear 276 and shaft 252, asviewed in FIG. 17, and resultant indexing of the movable members 200 and202 three index positions to the right. Admitting the air through line292 causes the piston rod 296 to return to its initial position in thecylinder 290, as shown in FIG. 17. The lines 292 and 294 are connectedby means of a four-way valve 298 to an air line 300 extending from ahigh-pressure air supply (not shown).

In order to operate the valve 298, an operating rod 302 of the valve 298has its normally free end connected to a reciprocating armature 304 of asolenoid 306. This solenoid 306 has one armature coil 308 connected toan indexing circuit and its other coil '310 included in a resettingcircuit. The resetting coil 310 is energized upon closure of a normallyopen switch 3112, mounted on an extension 314 of the support plate 256(FIG. 16) when the switch 312 is contacted by an arm 316 carried by therack 280, upon movement of the latter to the left (FIG. 17).

As shown particularly in FIG. 17 the indexing circuit for the loadingside of the transfer conveyor 198 extends from one side of a voltagesupply, indicated by the legend A.C. Supply, through a conductor 318leadmg to one end of the coil 3018 of the solenoid 306 and from theother end of the coil 308 through a conductor 320, to one side of anormally open switch 322 closable at a predetermined time by a cam 324on a cam shaft 326 of one of the automatic mounting machines 204. Thisindexing circuit is then completed from the other side of the switch3122 by a conductor 328 to the other side of the voltage supply.

Thus, after the three automatic mounting machines 204 (FIG. 12) haveeach delivered a mount 12m to a mount-receiving head 244 on the loadingside of the movable member 200 of the transfer `conveyor 198 and thebulb feeder 206 (FIG. 12) has delivered a bulb 12b to threebulb-receiving heads 246, the cam 324 on the shaft 326 of one of theautomatic mounting machines, closes the switch 322 thus energizing theindexing coil 308 of the solenoid 306, which energization causes themoving of the armature 304 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 17. This arm rotation causes the passage of high-pressure air fromthe line 300 through the valve 298 and the line 294, thus moving thepiston rod 296 of the air cylinder 290 to the left. In turn, thismovement of the piston rod 296 causes the operating rod 288 and the rack280 to likewise move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 17, and the piniongear 276 and the Arisonanza I3 ratchet wheel 272 to move in acounterclockwise `direction thus indexing the loading side of themovable members 200 and 202 three positions to the right (FIG. 17) asabove mentioned.

When the rack 280 reaches the end of its travel to the left, the switchoperating arm 316 carried thereby closes the normally-open switch 312which in turn closes the resetting circuit for causing the first drivemeans 208 for the loading side of the conveyor 198 to return to itsinitial position shown in FIG. 17.

This resetting circuit (FIG. 17) includes a conductor 330 extending froma junction point 332 with the conductor 318 (which effectivelyconstitutes one side of the supply source) to one side of the normallyopen switch 312 and extends from the other side of the switch 312 'by aconductor 334 to one end of the resetting coil 310 of the solenoid 306and thence by means of a suitable yconductor 336 from the other side ofthe coil 310 to the junction point 337 with the line conductor 328,which constitutes the other side of the supply source.

Closure of the switch 312 (by rack arm 316, as above mentioned) causesclosure of this resetting circuit, thus energizing the resetting coil310 of the solenoid 306 accompanied by movement of the solenoid armature304 to the left (FIG. 17) with attendant rotation of the valve 294 in aclockwise direction. This valve rotation permits the llow of highpressure air from the line 300 through the Valve 298 and the line 292and causes the movement of the piston rod 296 in the air cylinder 290 tothe right, to its initial position, as shown in FIG. 17. The resultantmovement of the operating rod 288 attached to the piston rod 296 and therack 280 in the same direction, rotates the gear 276 in a clockwisedirection. However, since the gear 276 is free to rotate on the shaft252 and the pawl 286 does not drive the ratchet wheel 236 during suchrotation, the movable members 200 and 202 do not index.

SECOND DRIVE MEANS FOR THE UNLOADING OF THE TRANSFER CONVEYOR In orderto mount the second drive means for the unloading side of the transferconveyor 138, a shaft 338 which carries drive members 339, suitablysprockets, is journalled in bearings 340 axed to a support plate 341projecting from the lower channels 216 and a lower plate 342 (FIG. l5).This shaft 338 also carries a gear 343 which meshes with a larger gear344 on a shaft 346 journalled in suitable bearings 348 (FIG. 16). Forthe purpose of causing rotation of the shaft 346, a ratchet wheel 350 iskeyed thereon and a pawl arm 352 and a rack gear 354 are connectedtogether by, a bushing 356 (FIG. 17) rotatable on the shaft 346. Thepawl arm 352 carries a stud shaft 358 (FIG. 17) which is mounted on apawl 360 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 350. As in the case of thefirst `drive means 208 for the loading side of the movable members 200and 202 of the transfer conveyor 198, the rack gear 354 engages a rack362 slidable in a suitable guide 364 provided in a `bracket of lowerbearing 348 which bracket is attached to the plate 342 (FIG. 16) on theframe of the transfer conveyor 198. The right-hand end, as viewed inFIG. 17, of the rack 362 is attached to one end of an operating rod 366projecting from a piston rod 368 of an air cylinder 370. This aircylinder 370 is provided with two high-pressure air supply lines 372 and374 at its left and right hand ends respectively, as viewed in FIG. 17,which ends are connected by means of a four-way valve 376 to theaforementioned air supply line 300.

For the purpose of operating the valve 376, an operating arm 378 ispivotably connected to an armature 380 of a solenoid 382 whose indexingcoil 384 and resetting coil 386 are in a second indexing circuit and asecond resetting circuit respectively.

This second indexing circuit (FIG. 17 extends from the line conductor358 through a conductor 388 leading to one end of the indexing -coil 384of the solenoid 382 and from the other end of such indexing coil 384 bya conductor 390 to one side of a normally-open switch 392, mounted on aplate 394 attached to the front upper channel 214 (FIG. 15) on theleft-hand end of the unloading side of the transfer conveyor 198. Theswitch 392 is utilized for actuating the second drive means 212 Afor theunloading side and is operable by an arm 396, shown in dotted lines inFIG. 17, which arm 396 is carried by the frame portions of thebulb-transfer unit 10b (FIG. 12). Such second indexing circuit is thencompleted by a conductor 398 extending from the other side of the switch392 to a junction point 400 with the line conductor 328.

Thus, when the arm 396 (FIG. 17) on the transfer unit 10b closes thenormally-open switch 392 this second indexing circuit is closed, thusenergizing the indexing coil 384 of the solenoid 382 and causing themovement of the solenoid armature 380 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 17.This movement of the armature 380 rotates the operating arm 378 and thevalve 376 clockwise to permit the passage of high-pressure air from thesupply line 300 through the valve 376 and the line 372, thus causing themovement to the right (FIG. 17) of the operating piston rod 368 of theair cylinder 370 together with the operating rod 366 and the rack 362attached thereto. Such movement of the rack 362 rotates the rack .gear354 and the ratchet Wheel 350 and the gear 344 on the lshaft 346 in theclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 17. Due to the length of thecylinder 370 and the gear ratio of the second drive means 212, thisclockwise rotation of the gear 344 rotates the meshing gear 343 anddrive members 339 on the shaft 338 in a counterclockwise direction,resulting in the attendant movement of the unloading side of the movablemembers 200 and 202 of the transfer conveyor 198 to the left, as viewedin FIGS. 12 and 17, for a total of ninety-six index positions, andpresenting a full compliment of loaded mount-receiving heads 244 andbulbreceiving heads 246 to the unloading zone adjacent the path ofmovement of the transfer units 10m and 10b. Simultaneously, the indexingof the unloading side of the movable members 200 and 202 theseninety-six positions to the left, also causes the reciprocating carriage238 to likewise move to the left (FIG. 15) to compensate for themovement of the movable members tothe above-noted ninety-six positions.

Near the end of this indexing movement of the rack 362, an arm 402carried on the forward end, as viewed in FIG. 17, of the rack 362engages a normally-open switch 404 affixed to the air cylinder 370. Thisswitch 404 controls closure of the second resetting circuit forreturning hte second drive means 212 lfor the unloading side to itsstarting position. This resetting circuit extends from the lineconductor 318 (FIG. 17) through the conductor 3818 to one side of theswitch 404 and from the other side of the switch 404 by means of aconductor 406 to one end of the resetting coil 386 of the solenoid 382.This circuit is then completed by `a suitable conductor 408 extendingfrom the other end of the coil 386 lto the junction 400 with theconductor 398 which is connected to the line conductor '328.

Closure of the switch 404 by the arm 402 closes the second resettingcircuit, thus causing energization of the coil '386 of the solenoid 382with attendant movement of the solenoid armature 380 to the right, asviewed in FIG. 17. Such movement rotates the operating arm 378 of thevalve 376 in counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG.17, permitting .the flow of high-pressure air from the line 300 throughthe valve 376 and the the line 374 into cylinder 370 to cause themovement of the operating piston rod 368 to the left, as viewed in FIG.17, thus resulting in the return of the second drive means 212 for theunloading side of the movable members 200 and 202 of the transferconveyor 198 to the starting position. As in the case of the first drivemeans 208 for the e,oes,572

loading side of such movable members 200 and 202, the pawl 360 does noteffect any movement of the ratchet wheel 350 or the unloading side ofthe movable members during this return movement of such second drivemeans 212.

OPERATION OF TRANSFER CONVEYOR As shown in FIG. 12, the second and thirdtransfer devices 210 associated with the automatic mounting machines204, numbered from left to right, deliver their mounts 12m tomount-receiving heads 244 which are twenty-five and fifty-one stationsto 4the right respectively, from the head 244 to which the firsttransfer device 210 delivered its mount 12m'. This disposition of thetransfer devices 210 assures the feeding of a mount 12ml (FIG. 18) toeach mount-receiving head 244 on the loading side of the transferconveyor 198. The bulb feeder 206 is located with respect to thebulb-receiving heads 246 to simultaneously feed a bulb 12b to each ofthree bulbreceiving heads 246 spaced four stations apart on the uppermovable member 2012 of the transfer conveyor 198, so that when the heads246 on the upper movable member 202 have completely passed the bulbfeeder 206, each head 246 will be loaded with a bulb 12b.

Since each of the automatic mount machines 4 (FIG. 12) is capable ofproducing 320() mounts per hour and the bulb feeder 206 is capable ofdelivering 9600 bulbs per hour, the transfer devices 202 and bulb feeder204 respectively deliver three mounts 12m and bulbs 12b every second-s(FIG. 14), or ninety-six mounts 12m and bulbs 12b every 36 seconds, tothe loading side of the transfer conveyor 198. Further every seconds theiirst drive means 208 for the loading side will index the loading sideof the movable members 200 and 202 three stations to the right, asviewed in FIG. 12. While the unloading side of the Itnansfer conveyor1918 is maintained stationary, each three-station index of the loadingside to the right, as viewed in FIGS. l2, 15 and 17 `causes the carriage238 to move 1/2 of this distance to the right on the upper channels 214`to compensate for the -difference in the rate of indexing movementbetween the two sides of the movable members 20'0 and 202.

After the mount-transfer unit 10m and bulb-transfer unit 10b transferthe mounts 12m and 12b from the heads .244 and 246 respectively to thesealing heads 18 on the :stationary liner 14, the second drive means 212for the unloading side of the transfer conveyor 198 is then actu- .atedby closure `of the switch 392 by the arm 396 on the transfer unit 10b,as previously mentioned, and ninety- :six loaded heads 244 and 246 areindexed into the unloading zone between the inner guide members 222, asviewed in FIGS. 12 and 17. During the indexing of the `unloading side ofthe transfer conveyor 198 the carriage i238 moves to the left, as viewedin FIGS. 12, l5 and 17 yto again compensate for the differences in therate of indexing movement between the two sides of the movable members200 and 202.

JOINT OPERATION OF THE TRANSFER CONVEYOR AND TRANSFER UNITS It will beunderstood from a consideration of FIG. 12 that the automatic high-speedmachine of the present invention is of the tandem type, provided withduplicate tooling on each side of the longitudinal axis of said machineand while only the operation on one side may have been described indetail, the operation on the other side of the longitudinal axis isidentical.

After the transfer conveyor 198 has delivered ninetvsix loadedmount-receiving heads 244 and ninety-six loaded bulb-receiving heads 246to the unloading Zone on the unloading side of the transfer conveyor 198and while such unloading side in then maintained stationary, themount-transfer unit '10m and bulb-transfer unit 10b move, ashereinbefore stated, between the stationary lines of heads 244 and 246of the transfer conveyor 198 and the stationary line of sealing heads18, from the right to the left, as viewed in FIG. l2, (referring to theportion of the machine above the longitudinal axis) to effect thedesired transfer of the parts.

Every time a lamp mount 12m or a bulb `12b is transferred by means ofthe transfer units 10b and 10m the transferred article advances 9%stations to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 12 and 13, from the pick-uppoint, position 1a (FIG. 13) on the article-feeding line tothe dischargepoint, position 1b, on the article-receiving line. Each side of thetandem-sealing line 14 has ninety-six Work positions, ten emptypositions for this transfer olfset and four empty positions at thebeginning and end of the operating line to permit the transfer units 10betc. to present themselves in a longitudinal straight position betweenthe work lines. Since there are four transfer operations in the examplesshown in FIG. 12, each side of the tandem work lines has 96-i-4X10-l-8or 144 stations. The total length of the longitudinal operating portionof the sealing line is only 6]/ MAX- or 30.5 seconds. Allowing 5.5seconds to negotiate the curved portions of the sealing line 14, thisgives a total of 36 seconds for a given transfer unit to complete itswork cycle. Because there are forty-eight empty positions on the sealingline 14, the transfer unit will travel or 10.2 seconds through emptypositions on each of the longitudinal sides of the sealing line 14. This10.2 seconds plus 5.5 seconds for negotiating `the curved portion of themachine provides 15.7 seconds (FIG. 14) for the transfer conveyor 193 topresent ninety-six loaded heads 244 and 246 to the unloading zone,adjacent the path of movement of the transfer units 10m and 10b. If thetransfer conveyor 198 travels at a rate of 3.5 ft. per sec., theconveyor will negotiate the or 48 ft. in 13.7 seconds, which time isample to accomplish the indexing of the unloading side of the transferconveyor 198 before the other pair of transfer units 10m and 10b presentthemselves to the now loaded unloading zone of the transfer conveyor198.

Thus, from the above description it is apparent that when the arm 396 onthe transfer unit 10b closes the switch 392 on the frame of the transferconveyor 198 (FIG. 15) to complete the second indexing circuit, a supplyof ninety-six mounts 12m and bulbs 12b will have accumulated on theloading side of the transfer conveyor 198 and there is sucient time,namely, 15.7 seconds, (FIG. 14) for the second drive means 212 for theunloading side of the transfer conveyor 198 -to index a full complimentof ninety-six mounts 12m and bulbs 12b into the unloading zone on theunloading size of said transfer conveyor 198 for transfer thereof to thesealing line 14 by the other pair of transfer units 10m and 1%.

AUTOMATIC HIGH-SPEED MANUFACTURING MACHINE The tandem-type automatichigh-speed machine of the present invention (FIG. l2) comprises on eachside thereof, as hereinbefore mentioned, the three automatic mountingmachines 204 and associated mount-transfer devices 210, the bulb feeder286, the transfer conveyor 198, the mount transfer unit m and bulbtransfer unit 10b, and the stationary sealing line 14 and exhaust line16. In addition to these, such automatic high-speed machine alsoincludes a plurality of, for example, two additional similar work lines,namely a basing line l412. and a seasoning and testing line 414 and apacking conveyor 416.

It will be understood from a consideration of FIG. 12 that a transferunit 10 (FIGS. 1-4) is employed be tween the sealing line and theexhaust line 16 to transfer the sealed lamps 12 therebetween. Totransfer the exhausted lamps 12 from the exhaust heads 52 on thestationary exhaust line 16 to basing heads 418 on the stationary basingline 412 a similar transfer unit libel, is employed between thestationary lines 16 and 412. This transfer unit 11h21, is desirablyprovided with a means for inverting the exhausted lamps 12 duringtransfer, such as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 of application 787,059 ofwhich this application is a division. For the purpose of supplying bases12C (FIG. 18) to the inverted exhausted lamps '12 held in the basingheads 418, a basefeeding device (of the type shown in U.S. Patent No.2,137,173, issued November 15, 1938, to J. I. Malloy) is positionedadjacent the stationary exhaust line 16 to feed the bases 12C to asecond transfer device lez for transfer for such bases to the invertedexhausted lamps 12 in the heads 418. To accomplish the transfer of thebased lamps '12 from the basing line 412 to the seasoning and testingline 414 a transfer unit 10)C is utilized.

As shown in FIG. 12, the distances between units 10m and 10b etc. whilesuch units are traversing the longitudinal portions of the high-speedautomatic machine (shown in the upper portion of such figure) are fixedby operating :the units at the same controlled linear speed. While theunits are traversing a curved end portion of the machine (such as theleft-hand portion), the speeds of such units are Varied so that theunits will arrive at the opposite longitudinal straight portions (shownin the lower portion of FIG. 12) with the same identical fixed distancesbetween units.

Thus, it will be seen from the above description of the operation of theautomatic high-speed manufacturing machine that 6X 3200 or 19,200 mounts12m per hour are produced by the six automatic mounting machines 204 and19,200 mounts 12m and bulbs 12b (FIG. 18) are delivered by the transferdevices 210 land bulb feeders 206 respectively to the transfer conveyors198. Further, the unloading sides of the two transfer conveyors 198 willdeliver 2 96 or 192 mounts 12m and bulbs 12b per every 36 seconds or or19,20() mounts 12m and bulbs 12b per hour to the pair of sealing lines14. In the same manner the two exhaust lines l16, basing lines 412,seasoning and testing lines 414 will also cooperate to deliver 19,200fabricated lamps 12 per hour to the packing conveyor.

Although a specific embodiment and alternative embodiments of thepresent invention have been herein shown and described, it will beunderstood that other modifications thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A transfer conveyor for transferring articles from anarticle-producing zone to an rarticle-discharge zone, comprising areciprocable carriage, means supported by said carriage and movable withrespect thereto and adapted to receive articles from saidarticle-producing zone, means for moving one portion of saidcarriage-supported means at a substantially uniform rate to permit thelatter to receive articles from said article-producing zone, advancingmeans for causing movement of a second portion of saidcarriage-supported means to present 4a line of articles to saiddischarge zone, said advancing means being operable to maintain saidsecond portion stationary for a predetermined period of time to permitcomplete unloading of articles from said line of such articles in saiddischarge zone, and said carriage being movable by saidcarriage-supported means while said second portion is advanced and whilesaid second portion is stationary to compensate for the different rateof movement between the two portions of said carriage-supported means.

2r. A transfer conveyor for transferring articles from anarticle-producing zone to an article-discharge zone, comprising areciprocable carriage, means supported by said carriage and movable withrespect thereto and adapted to receive articles from saidarticle-producing zone, means for moving one portion of saidcarriage-supported means at a substantially uniform rate to permit thelatter to receive articles from said article-producing zone, advancingmeans for causing movement of a second portion of saidcarriage-supported means to present a line of articles, said advancingmeans being operable to maintain said second portion stationary for apredetermined period of time to permit complete unloading of articlesfrom said line `of such articles in said discharge zone, said carriagebeing movable by said carriage-supported means while said second portionis advanced and while said second portion is stationary to compensatefor the different rate of movement between the two portions of saidcarriage-supported means and a control mechanism associated with saidadvancing means and operable at a predetermined time to causeenergization of said advancing means.

3. A transfer conveyor for transferring first articles and secondarticles from an article-feeding zone to a discharge zone, comprising areciprocable carriage, a first pair of guide members disposed on saidcarriage in spaced relation, a first endless member passing around andsupported by said guide members and movable with respect thereto, aplurality of first article-supporting means on said first endless memberand adapted to receive such first articles from said article-feedingzone, a second pair of guide members disposed on said carriage in spacedrelation, a second endless member passing around and supported by saidsecond pair of guide members and movable at the same rate as said firstendless member ,a plurality of second article-supporting means on saidsecond endless member and adapted to receive such second articles fromsaid article-feeding zone, means for moving one portion of said firstand second endless members at a substantially uniform rate to permitsaid first articlesupporting means to receive such first articles fromsaid article-feeding zone and said second article-supporting means toreceive such second articles from said article-feeding zone, advancingmeans for causing movement of a second portion of said first and secondendless members to present a pair of lines of such first and secondarticles for transfer to said discharge zone, said advancing means beingoperable to maintain said second portion stationary for a predeterminedperiod of time to permit complete unloading of such first and secondarticles from said lines of such articles, and said carriage beingmovable by said first and second endless members while said secondportion is advanced and while said second portion is stationary tocompensate for the different rate of movement between the two portionsof said first and second endless member.

`4. A transfer conveyor for transferring mounts and bulbs from anarticle-feeding Zone to a discharge Zone, comprising a recriprocablecarriage, a first pair of sprockets disposed on said carriage in spacedrelation, a first chain passing around and supported by said firstsprockets and movable with respect thereto, a plurality ofmount-supporting heads on said first chain and adapted to receive suchmounts from said article-feeding zone, a second pair of sprocketsdisposed on said carriage in spaced relation, a second chain passingaround and supported by said second pair of sprockets and movable at thesame rate as said tirst chain, a plurality of bulb-supporting heads onsaid second chain and adapted to receive such bulbs from saidarticle-feeding zone, means for moving one portion of said first andsecond chains at a substantially uniform rate to permit saidmount-supporting means to receive such mounts from said articlefeedingzone and said bulb-supporting means to receive such bulbs from saidarticle-feeding Zone, advancing means for causing movement of a secondportion of said iirst and second chains to present a pair of lines ofsuch mounts and bulbs to said discharge zone, said advancing means beingoperable to 'maintain said second portion stationary for a predeterminedperiod of time to permit complete unloading of such mounts and bulbsfrom said -lines, and said carriage being movable by said first andsecond chains while said second portion is advanced Vand while saidsecond portion is stationary to compensate for the different rate ofmovement between the two portions of said first and second chains.

5. A transfer conveyor for transferring articles from anarticle-producing zone to a discharge zone comprising a reciprocablecarriage, a pair of guide members disposed on said carriage in spacedrelation, an endless member passing around and supported by said guidemembers and movable with respect to said carriage, a plurality ofarticle-supporting means on said endless member adapted to receivearticles from said article-producing zone, means for moving one portionof said endless member at a substantially uniform rate to permit thearticle-supporting means to receive articles from said article-producingZone, advancing means for causing movement of a second portion of saidendless member to present a line of loaded article-supporting means tosaid discharge zone, said advancing means being operable to maintainsaid second portion stationary for a predetermined period or time topermit complete unloading of articles from said line ofarticle-supporting means, and said carriage being movable by saidendless member while said second portion is advanced and while saidsecond portion is stationary to compensate for the different rate ofmovement between the two portions of said endless member.

6. A transfer conveyor for transferring first articles and secondyarticles from an article-feeding zone to a discharge Zone comprising areciprocable carriage, a

rst means supported by said carriage and movable with respect theretoand adapted to receive such first articles from said article-feedingzone, a second means supported by said carriage and movable at the samerate as said first carriage-supported means and adapted to receive suchsecond articles from said article-feeding zone, means for moving oneportion of said first and second carriagesupported means at asubstantially uniform rate to permit the first carriage-supported meansto receive such first articles from said article-feeding zone and thesecond carriage-supported means to receive such second articles fromsaid article-feeding zone, advancing means for causing movement of Iasecond portion of said first and second carriage-supported means topresent a pair of lines of such first and second articles to saiddischarge zone, said advancing means being operable to maintain saidsecond portion stationary for a predetermined period of time to permitcomplete unloading of such first and second articles from said lines ofsuch articles, and said carriage being movable by said rst and secondcarriagesupported means while said'second portion is advanced and whilesaid second portion is stationary to compensate for the different rateof movement between the two portions of said first and secondcarriage-supported means.

7. A transfer conveyor for transferring .first articles and secondarticles from an article-feeding zone to a discharge zone, comprising areciprocable carriage, a first pair of guide members disposed on saidcarriage in spaced relation, a first endless member passing around andsupported by said guide members and movable with respect thereto, aplurality of rst article-supporting means on said first endless memberand adapted to receive such first articles from said article-feedingzone, Ya second pair of guide members disposed on said carriage inspaced relation, a second endless member passing around and supported bysaid second pair of guide members and movable at the same rate as saidfirst endless member, a plurality of second article-supporting means onsaid second endless member and adapted to receive such second articlesfrom said article-feeding zone, means for moving one portion of saidfirst and second members `at a substantially uniform rate to permit thefirst article-supporting means to receive such first articles from saidarticlefeeding zone and the second article-supporting means to receivesuch second articles from said article-feeding zone, advancing means forcausing movement of a second portion of said first and second endlessmembers to present a pair of lines of such first and second articles tosaid discharge zone, said advancing means being operable to maintainsaid second portion stationary for a predetermined period of time topermit complete unloading of such first and second articles from saidlines of such articles, said Lcarriage being movable by said first andsecond endless members while said second portion is advanced and whilesaid second portion is stationary to compensate for the different rateof movement between vthe two portions-of said -first and second 'endlessmembers, and a control mechanism associated with said advancing meansand operable at a predetermined time to canse energization of saidadvancing means.

8. Conveyor apparatus fortransferring articles from an article-producingzone to an article-discharge zone, comprising a reciprocable carriage,means supported by said carriage and movable with respect thereto andadapted to receive articles from said article-producingzone, means formoving one portion of said carriage-supported means into said producingzone to permit the latter to receive articles from saidarticle-producing zone, advancing means for causing movement of a secondportion of said carriage-supported means to present a line of articlesto saiddischarge zone, said advancing means being operable to maintainsaidline stationary for a predetermined period of time, a movabletransfer unit having conveyor means movable relative to said unit sothat `said conveyor means is stationary during apart of its path, saidconveyor means while in the stationary part of its path cooperating withsaid line to unload said -articles from said line in said discharge zoneduring said period of time, said carriage being movable by saidcarriagesupported means while said second portion is advanced and whilesaid second portion is stationary to compensate for the different rateof movement between the two portions of said carriage supported means.

9. Conveyor apparatus for transferring first articles and secondarticles from an article-feeding zone to a discharge zone, comprising-a-reciprocable carriage, a'frst pair of guide members disposed on saidcarriage in spaced relation, a first endless member passing around andsupported by said guide members and movable with respect thereto, aplurality of rst article-supporting means on said first endless memberand adapted to receive such first articles from said articles-feedingzone, a second pair of guide members disposed on said carriage

5. A TRANSFER CONVEYOR FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES FROM ANARTICLE-PRODUCING ZONE TO A DISCHARGE ZONE COMPRISING A RECIPROCABLECARRIAGE, A PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS DISPOSED ON SAID CARRIAGE IN SPACEDRELATION, AN ENDLESS MEMBER PASSING AROUND AND SUPPORTED BY SAID GUIDEMEMBERS AND MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID CARRIAGE, A PLURALITY OFARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID ENDLESS MEMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVEARTICLES FROM SAID ARTICLE-PRODUCING ZONE, MEANS FOR MOVING ONE PORTIONOF SAID ENDLESS MEMBER AT A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM RATE TO PERMIT THEARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEANS TO RECEIVE ARTICLES FROM SAID ARTICLE-PRODUCINGZONE, ADVANCING MEANS FOR CAUSING MOVEMENT OF A SECOND PORTION OF SAIDENDLESS MEMBER TO PRESENT A LINE OF LOADED ARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEANS TOSAID DISCHARGE ZONE, SAID ADVANCING MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO MAINTAINSAID SECOND PORTION STATIONARY FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME TOPERMIT COMPLETE UNLOADING OF ARTICLES FROM SAID LINE OFARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEANS, AND SAID CARRIAGE BEING MOVABLE BY SAIDENDLESS MEMBER WHILE SAID SECOND PORTION IS ADVANCED AND WHILE SAIDSECOND PORTION IS STATIONARY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DIFFERENT RATE OFMOVEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PORTIONS OF SAID ENDLESS MEMBER.